My husband and I are traveling to Australia in April 2006 and part of our trip will be in Cairns for five days. We will be diving for at least two days in Cairns, but will also be taking a road trip to Mission Beach. What are the recommended stops on the way in the Atherton Tablelands, I know there are many, but don't want to miss the highlights. Also, wondering about making trip to Cape Trib/Daintree

To take in some of the most scenic parts of Tableland enroute to Mission Beach, turn right off Bruce Hwy at Gillies Highway, Gordonvale, south of Cairns. A long, winding, steep road with amazing views. Lake Barrine, crater lake is not far from top of Gillies; nice teahouse there and boat trip around rainforest surrounded lake. Nearby Lake Eacham is also worth a stop. See the giant curtain fig tree near Yungaburra, and have a look around the town - some nice old heritage buildings. Then take road to Malanda and on to Milla Milla for waterfalls (very lush, green dairy country), then take the Palmerston Hwy down to rather quaint Innisfail on river near coast, then on to Mission Beach where it would be nice to spend at least one night. Mission Beach is not far from grade 5 whitewater rafting on Tully River, and you could take a day trip over to Dunk Island.

Return to Cairns on Bruce Hwy, stopping off at Josephine Falls, Babinda Boulders, Paronella Park; all this area is also world heritage rainforest.

Hi lightfoot33,
Would agree wholeheartedly with Pat's suggested itinerary - we have travelled through the Tablelands, and the points mentioned would be highlights. The Atherton trip is very manageable in one day although I don't know about the feasibility of going to Mission Beach and back in one day.
Cape Trib is a great trip, best to do with a guide so you get the benefit of the local knowledge. Also a very worthwhile-trip.
Enjoy it - I can't wait to go back for my third visit.

Thanks for the pointers so far. We are definitely planning on staying at least one night in Mission Beach. Maybe one in the Tablelands if one strikes our fancy. Any thoughts on a quaint place to stay in Yungaburra that won't cost a lot? Or should we stay in Mission Beach both nights and visit the sights during the day?

http://www.paronellapark.com.au/ This is the website for Paronella Park. A strange and interesting place. The first time I visited there in the 1980s it was pretty much in complete ruins but I think they have taken it back from the jungle a bit since then. I went again sometime in the 90's and still found it interesting though the sense of being an archeologist discovering a lost civilization was gone. The story of how it was built is great and I recommend a stop there. Kids would also do well here as there are paths all around to run along.

Yungaburra is sweet. They won a QLD "Tidy Town Award", which tickled us and they had a sign prominently placed to announce this the last time I was there. I would not try to day trip from Mission Beach.

I've also been to the Babinda Boulders which is worth a stop. Be sure to walk up the path to see the really big ones. You can swim here...water is icy cold! http://www.wettropics.gov.au/ttd/ttd_babinda_parks.asp is a website with some info that might be helpful, how to get there etc.

Do make sure you swim only in designated areas at Babinda Boulders where water is calm, at least 16 lives have been lost there in the last 50 years. The cold water comes straight down from Qld's highest mountain (Mt Bartle Frere) and unsuspecting swimmers have been caught in strong current then trapped under boulders.

lightfoot: for an overnight you might like to look at Williams Lodge at Yungaburra, a lovely restored, large Queenslander home - www.williamslodge.com and for Mission Beach see Honeyeater Homestay - www.honeyeater.com.au - Luke and Nina are marvellous hosts with vast local knowledge of area and wildlife.

I concur with Pat on both counts, he has suggested an excellent itinerary.

Please be very careful at the Boulders, it is very tempting to jump in for a swim but extremely dangerous. The local aboriginal people, the traditional owners of the land advise against swimming and there is a rather interesting dream time story about the place.

Enjoy yourself it's a wonderful place.

Interesting comments about the Boulders. I understand about not swimming where the big boulders are, up the path to the left, but we swam in a very calm area at the base. There were lots of people swimming and the water wasn't moving too fast to manage even for kids (this was in March). There was a rope swing and the kids just loved that. So I think there is a safe place to swim at the Boulders but Pat is right that there have been deaths there when people didn't use sense.

LynAK, yes, the first swimming area (where the swing rope is) is safe, and you'll see lots of kids and adults enjoying it there. It's further up the track where you can strike trouble - there are warning signs, but sadly, not always heeded.